Fare Choice Issue 7 - Community Food and Health

Fare Choice
‘Now You’re Cooking’ is a nutrition education
programme developed by Health Promotions
aimed at low income families. It was piloted in
ten venues around Grampian earlier this year, and
attracted a lot of interest in each area. Led by
trained Health Promotion Assistants, the course
consists of eight, two hour sessions covering
healthy eating, food safety, shopping tips and the
opportunity to try out low cost recipes. Naturally,
there were practical cooking and tasting sessions
as well. A total of forty eight participants took
part throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, all
of whom were low income mothers, mostly with
young children. They were referred to the course
by GPs, health visitors or community workers.
To ensure the programme was developed to
meet the needs of the target group consultation
took place with representatives of the target
audience, community workers and health
professionals. The findings of the pilot project
show that it is possible to achieve both significant
increases in nutritional knowledge and potentially
beneficial changes in the dietary practices of
limited income families even though they are
traditionally considered ‘hard to reach’. A positive
effect on the well being and social aspects of the
target group was also noted. A practical guide
to support cooking skill development, particularly
with low income groups is now available.
The results and the enthusiastic response to Now
You’re Cooking highlight a need to further develop
food poverty projects in designated areas within
Grampian. Funding was recently secured from
Grampian Health Board to train community
members and workers to take the project forward
to help provide a consistent and co-ordinated
approach to nutrition education for those in need.
Contact:
Linda Davidson, Health Promotions
t01224 589901
Food Connections is a brand new initiative in East
Ayrshire. Still in its early days, people from around
Cumnock and Doon Valley have begun meeting
monthly to identify food issues of concern to their
communities.
Further information available from:
Janet McComb, Community Resources Centre,
54/56 Corserine Terr, Bellsbank, Dalmellington
KA6 75Y t 01292 550 712
Many projects will have already received the excellent
report from the seminar on Breakfast Clubs
organised by Possil/Parkhouse Community Health
Project in Glasgow. If you would like a copy you
can get one by contacting Bill or Jacquie at SCDP
and if you would like further information on how the
work is progressing you can contact
Sadie Gordon at Possil Parkhouse Community
Health Project, Ardoch House, Ardoch Street,
Glasgow G22 t 0141 347 1172
Greater Glasgow Health Board’s recently
established Breakfast Club Steering Group are
attempting to map out existing activity in this field
and are keen to hear from Breakfast Clubs in their
area. They are also keen to learn from the
experience of similar initiatives in other parts of the
country. Any relevant information should be sent to
Phil White, Youth Team, Health Promotion
Department, Dalian House, St Vincent St,
Glasgow t 0141 201 4890
If you haven’t already seen, it the evaluation report
on the Big Breakfast Club in Govan, Glasgow is well
worth reading. Completed last summer, a copy of
the report is available from
Uzma Rehman, Health Promotion Officer,
Cowglen Hospital, 10 Boydstone Rd, Glasgow
G53 6XJ t 0141 211 9241
Food and Health: Making it Happen in Moray
A report on the first seminar organised as part
of the Moray Health Strategy, and hosted by the
Moray Council and Grampian Health Promotions.
Copies are available, while stocks last from:
Kate Philip, Health Promotion Co-ordinator,
239 High Street, Elgin t 01343 545246
If you are doing something you think is worth
sharing, or are looking for advice or practical
assistance, or simply want to declare your
existence, then Fare Choice will be glad to
hear from you. The next edition is due out
in February and the deadline for
contributions is Friday 15 January.